Mechanically actuated marionette control mechanism



Oct. 28 1952 u sm-u 2,615,282

MECHANICALLY ACTUATED MARIONETTE CONTROL MECHANISM I Filed Sept. 16, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEEI' 1 IN V EN TOR.

Fgank L/g/fs'c 4/" BY l I f I {/1 F Oct. 28, 1952 U L scm $615,282

MECHANICALLY ACTUATED MARIONETTE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1949 2 SPEETS SHEET 2 INVENTOR. l ke 714A l/e/fichll A TTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1952 I 2,615,282 MEGHA-NIGALLY AGTUATED 'MARIONETTE" GONT'RQL MECHANISM Frank E. Ueltschi, Saginaw, Mich; Application September 16, 1949*, Se1ial No.116g105" One of the prime objects of:my, invention;is to provide a mechanically actuated marionette-control mechanism for employment in'window ad- 3 Claims. (01. 46-126) provide a design in which the marionettes can be easily interchanged and new puppets substituted, providing a wide degree of versatility and a device which is readily adapted to almost any form of display advertising.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device in which the actions of the puppets or marionettes are natural and life-like, and are varied so as not to be repetitive and monotonous.

A further object still is to provide a mechanically actuated marionette control of the type described, which while eliminating the formerly necessary complicated and expensive lever mechanisms of previous devices, is adapted to be driven by a single power means.

Still a further object is to design a device of simpledesign which can be easily and quickly adjusted and which can be economically manufactured and assembled.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, but that various changes in the form, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the control mechanism with the puppet connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a top, plan view of the control mechanism with the puppets omitted.

Fig. 3 is a transverse-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, the broken lines illustrating the rocking movement of the action bars.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the action cylinder.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, transverse-sectional view through a section of the adjustable track.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown one embodiment of my invention, the letter F indicates a preferably fabricated frame structure including side members It! and II connected together by means of end frame members l2 having, bu-ilt-inbearing means (not shown) located in the-frame and in which is journaled a shaft [4.

The shaft I4 is drivingly connected to a variable speedelectric motor M and a suitable speed reducing means (not shown) is interposed .between said shaft and motor-to provide the desired RLP: M; a

An action cylinder I6 is mounted on the shaft In and a plurality of equidistant holes H are provided in said cylinder (see Fig. 4 of the drawings), for affixing the action strips or tracks I8 to the face thereof, flat headed screws (not shown) being used for this purpose.

These action strips or tracks [8 are formed in sections and are formed of relatively soft sheet metal or material that can be readily bent and shaped, the cross-sectional shape being substantially as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the strips being mounted and secured in end-to-end relation to form a track completely or partially encircling said cylinder, the center section being grooved as at 20 and the wings 2| being rolled as shown with spaced-apart laterally projecting flanges 2 l formed on the lower ends of the wings.

A longitudinally disposed, non-rotatable shaft 22 is mounted in the frame F adjacent the cylinder l6 and parallel thereto, and a wing-nut retaining means 23 is provided on the ends thereof for securing it in position.

Action bars B are loosely and rockably mounted on the shaft 22 at a point intermediate their length, and springs 24 are interposed between said bars for holding them in spaced relation, a roller 25 being journaled on a pin 26 provided in the one end of the action bar for travel in said roove.

Strings S are attached to the outer free ends of the action bars B, and puppets P are secured to the lower ends of the strings. A bar stop 21 is mounted transversely above the inner ends of the action bars, and is secured to the end frame members l2 for limiting upward swing of the inner ends of said bars. I wish to direct particular attention to the fact that the action bars are loosely mounted on the shaft 22 and have limited swiveling movement thereon so that the rollers 25 freely roll in the groove 20 and follow the track regardless of the bends, rises etc.

In practice, the devise operates in the following manner. When the track has been arranged and secured on the cylinder so that the desired movement or action is produced, the motor M is energized, the rollers 25 riding in the grooves 20, the shape, alignment and spacing of the track from the face of the cylinder imparting any desired horizontal, vertical or transverse movement or combination thereof to the action bars B, which in turn determine the movements of the marionettes or puppets P.

The bar stop 21 limits the upward vertical movement of the inner end of the action bars B,

thus the weighted marionettes or puppets are prevented from falling below a predetermined level.

When it is desired to provide different movement or action, the tracks [8 can be removed and bent to the necessary shape, or new sections ca be bolted in position.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, attractive display device for the urpose described, which can be adjusted to provide any desired motion or action.

What I claim is:

l. A mechanically driven action control for marionettes comprising a frame, a driven shaft journaled on said frame, a cylinder mounted on said driven shaft, undulating track sections mounted on said cylinder, a stationary shaft mounted in said frame substantially parallel to said driven shaft, action bars pivotally mounted interjacent their ends to swivel on said stationary shaft and engageable at one end with said track sections, resilient means interposed between said action bars for yieldably holding the bars in horizontal spaced relation, a marionette suspended from the free ends of the action bars, and means for limiting the upward swing of the trackengaging ends of said bars.

2. "The combination defined in claim 1 in which said means for limiting the upward swing of the track-engaging ends of said action bars comprises a positive bar stop positioned in said frame over the track-engaging ends of said action bars.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said tracks are readily bendable and said cylinder is perforated, flanges provided on said tracks and means positioned in said flanges for adjustably mounting said tracks in said perforations.

FRANK E. UELTSCHI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Deaton Apr. 5, 

